Children across Australia will continue to see gambling logos on professional sport jerseys until up to 2032 despite the government’s pledge to break the link between sport and wagering. The Albanese government has banned gambling company logos on jerseys but legislated a five-year transition period to allow clubs and bookmakers to adjust. The 2032 deadline has been criticised by public health experts, who question why the government recognised the logos as harmful but allowed them to remain for so long.
The grandfathering provisions mean a child in year 8 today could see gambling logos on a sports professional jersey until they finish school. The five-year window has been criticised by the crossbench senator David Pocock, who called on clubs to end jersey sponsorships “at the earliest opportunity”. The Liberal MP Andrew Wallace, who crossed the floor to vote against the bill, said five years was too generous and that he pushed his party room to accept a two-year deadline.
When asked about the five-year window, the communications minister, Anika Wells, said one unnamed sports club had a jersey deal until 2031. Wells said she hoped clubs would end their jersey deals with wagering companies earlier, but stressed that was a commercial decision for clubs and not government. Samantha Thomas, a public health expert specialising in gambling harm, said the five-year window meant it was “difficult to take the government seriously when it claims to be trying to break the nexus between gambling and sport”.
The Brisbane Broncos have a jersey deal with The Star until the end of next season, although the club is yet to reveal its 2027 shirt and is in discussions with the casino. The Star did not respond before deadline. The Penrith Panthers signed a jersey deal with Picklebet in 2025 that, according to the club, will last until “at least” the end of the 2027 season.
The Newcastle Knights have a jersey deal with Palmerbet that reportedly runs until the end of 2028. The club declined to comment on the specifics of this deal. In 2024 the Gold Coast Titans signed a jersey deal with The Lottery Office, although this is exempt from the changes due to a carveout for domestic lotteries.
The Dolphins have a jersey contract with the gambling company Betr, which merged with the existing shirt sponsor BlueBet in 2024. The West Tigers have a deal jersey deal with NextBet, which was previously known as Play Up. This long-running contract will expire before 2032.
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